Modesto JC men find form in 2nd half

MENDOCINO -- The Modesto Junior College men's basketball team shook off some season-opening rust Thursday and then went to work.

The result was an impressive second half and an 85-66 win over Siskiyous in the first round of the Ed Boyle Classic.

Tashawn Mabry spiced the MJC attack with 25 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Pirates into the semifinal game tonight at 5 o'clock against Los Medanos.

Modesto led only 36-34 at halftime before its defense and rebounding overwhelmed Siskiyous (2-3). Brenden Evans had 16 points and 12 rebounds in his MJC debut, and Ricky Inderbitzin netted three triples en route to 11 points.

Jerrod Patton accounted for 12 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Women's Basketball

• OVERTIME WIN, at Livermore — MJC center Jamie Beck scored 24 points and blocked six shots to lead the Pirates (3-1) to a 68-65 overtime win over Cuesta in the first round of the Las Positas tournament. Beck, who had only one practice after the end of volleyball season this week, extended the game with a game-the tying free throw with 2 seconds left in regulation.

Soccer

• PIRATES AT HOME — The MJC men (11-4-5) will entertain Gavilan (11-6-4) Saturday in the opening round of the Northern California Regionals. Game time is 2 p.m. at the MJC West Campus field. The No. 7-seeded Pirates, the Big 8 Conference champions in 2011, placed second this fall behind Santa Rosa. In the women's NorCals, 16th-seeded Modesto (5-8-8) is a major underdog at top-seeded Fresno (15-4-2).